New to Grow
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and an Educator who is passionate about helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges with compassion, understanding, and practical support. Much of my work focuses on supporting women, children, adolescents, and families as they work through trauma, grief, life transitions, relationship challenges, and the everyday stresses that can impact emotional well-being. Outside of my professional work, I am a proud single mama to five children and a grandmother to two wonderful grandchildren. My life is full, busy, and deeply grounded in family and community. I am also an equestrian and love spending time outdoors caring for my animals and gardening. I am currently training several of my animals—including my pig, goat, miniature horse and mule, cat, and dogs—to serve as emotional support animals that I hope to thoughtfully incorporate into therapeutic experiences in the future. I believe that connection with animals and nature can be incredibly healing and can offer unique opportunities for comfort, regulation, and emotional growth. These personal experiences help shape my approach to therapy. I strive to create a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental space where clients feel safe to be themselves, explore their experiences, and work toward meaningful healing and growth.
During our first session, my goal is to create a welcoming and comfortable space where you can share what has been bringing you to therapy. We will talk about your current concerns, your goals, and any important experiences that may be impacting your life right now. This session is also an opportunity for you to ask questions, learn more about my approach, and begin building a trusting therapeutic relationship. Together, we will start identifying areas of focus and develop a plan that supports your needs and goals.
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to build and lead programs that expand access to meaningful mental health support for children, adolescents, and families. I played a key role in developing and launching a 15-clinician School-Based Mental Health Program within a local school district, helping bring accessible counseling services directly into schools where students spend much of their time. This work reflects my commitment to ensuring that mental health support is both accessible and responsive to the real needs of students and families. My experience spans multiple roles within education and mental health systems. In addition to my work as a Licensed Mental Health Clinician, I have served as a school counselor and a school administrator. This diverse background has given me a deep understanding of how school systems operate and the complex challenges that students, families, and educators navigate every day. I also had the opportunity to open and lead a school designed to support students through therapeutic and trauma-informed approaches. This experience strengthened my commitment to integrating mental health support into educational environments and reinforced my belief that students thrive when their emotional wellbeing is supported alongside their academic growth. Together, these experiences allow me to bring a unique perspective to my clinical work, helping children, adolescents, and families navigate both mental health challenges and the realities of school systems with greater confidence, understanding, and support.
My ideal clients are individuals, children, adolescents, and families who are navigating emotional challenges, life transitions, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, or ongoing stress. I often work with women seeking support for personal growth, emotional healing, and navigating the complex roles and responsibilities they carry in their lives. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of how to move forward, and are looking for a supportive space to gain clarity, build coping skills, and create meaningful change. I also work closely with children, adolescents, and their parents as they navigate behavioral, emotional, and school-related challenges. With extensive professional experience working within school systems, I understand the complexities families face when supporting children who may be struggling with behavior, school attendance, academic stress, peer relationships, or emotional regulation. I help both students and parents better understand the underlying factors contributing to these challenges while developing practical strategies that support growth, communication, and stability at home and in school. Many families I work with are looking for guidance on how to support their child while also balancing the demands of parenting, school expectations, and family dynamics. I partner with parents to help them feel more confident in responding to their child’s needs and strengthening their relationship with their child. My ideal clients are those who are open to reflection, growth, and learning new skills. Together, we focus on building resilience, improving communication, strengthening relationships, and developing practical tools that support long-term wellbeing and success.
Trauma-Focused CBT
In my practice, I incorporate Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to help clients safely explore how trauma may be impacting their current thoughts, emotions, and relationships. Together we work to build coping skills, challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, and create a path toward healing, empowerment, and lasting change.
Grief Therapy
I support clients experiencing grief and loss by providing a compassionate space where they can process difficult emotions at their own pace. My approach to grief therapy helps individuals explore their feelings, honor their experiences, and develop healthy ways to cope while adjusting to life after loss.
Couples Counseling
In couples counseling, I help partners improve communication, rebuild trust, and better understand each other’s needs and perspectives. Together we work to strengthen emotional connection, navigate conflict in healthier ways, and develop practical tools that support a more balanced and supportive relationship.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
I work with children and adolescents while also partnering closely with their parents or caregivers. My approach focuses on helping young people build emotional awareness, coping skills, and confidence while supporting parents with practical strategies to better understand and respond to their child’s needs.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
I provide culturally sensitive therapy that honors each client’s unique background, identity, and life experiences. I strive to create a respectful and supportive space where clients feel seen, heard, and understood while exploring how culture, family, and personal experiences shape their perspectives and wellbeing.